Westfield Matildas to play Brazil in Australia

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that the Westfield Matildas will face Brazil this September in a two-match International Series at Pepper Stadium, Penrith (Saturday 16 September) and McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (Tuesday 19 September).

This two-match series will come soon after the Westfield Matildas meet Brazil at the 2017 Tournament of Nations in the USA.

FFA’s Head of Women’s Football, Emma Highwood, said it was a great opportunity for fans to see two of the highest ranked women’s teams in world football.

“To have a national team of the calibre of Brazil agree to these two matches is a fantastic coup and we thank the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) for agreeing to play these matches,” said Highwood.

“Female football is the fastest growing area of our game and we recently announced our intention to bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. So this is a great opportunity for Australians to show their support for the Westfield Matildas in their own backyard and see top flight women’s football live.

“I would like to take this opportunity to also thank the NSW Government, Penrith City Council and Newcastle City Council for their valuable support for making these matches possible,” concluded Highwood.

Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic will be looking to use the two matches to strengthen his squad ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup which will be held in April next year in Jordan.

“A great rivalry and a healthy respect has developed over the past few years between our two teams. We knocked them out of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but they defeated us at the Olympics.

“It will be a tough challenge for us against some of the best players in the world. Brazil has definitely been one of the bench mark nations in world football and we are looking forward to meeting them on home soil again.

“As these matches fall within the FIFA match windows we will be at full strength and I’m sure all the players will be up for the challenge,” concluded Stajcic.

In a coup for local footballers, all registered players in NSW will be able to purchase discounted tickets for each match.